Young musician busking with pride
TOM Meadows dreams of following in the footsteps of British superstar Ed Sheeran, who started out busking on London’s streets before being catapulted to international fame.
And Tom’s made a good start — he’s just been named Geelong’s best young busker.
The 13-year-old Year 8 student first picked up a guitar at age three.
And while he performs much-loved covers like Sheeran’s Castle on the Hill, Vance Joy’s Rip Tide and the classic Sweet Home Alabama, he gets the most joy performing his own originals.
“I just write about things that happened to me. I think of something that I’ve experienced and make that into a song,” he said.
Tom said his most recent song was about “being true to yourself” and is aptly named True to Yourself.
“I always start playing the music then I work the words bit by bit,” he said. “I write whatever comes to my mind and try and make it sound the best it can.”
Tom was one of around 30 people aged from three to 18 to compete for the Best Kid Busker title.
The finalists were whittled down to seven before the Kardinia International College student was named the champion on Friday.
Tom, who was been busking since he was nine, said winning the competition was a huge confidence booster.
“I got told (by the judges) that I had great musicality and was a natural performer,” he said. “Busking can be challenging because you can’t expect people to stop and listen, you just have to do your absolute best.”
Tom’s prize includes a performance at the unveiling of Geelong’s Waterfront Christmas tree later this year.
“I just want to be a singersong writer, being like Ed Sheeran is the massive goal,” he said.